Destination Guides - Southpoint.com Blog

Friday, February 10, 2012

Xunantunich Tour in Belize

The Mayans are getting much attention in 2012. Their Long Count Calendar
predicted the end of the world to be December 21, 2012. I wouldn't head
for the hills just yet....It is amazing that their architecture was so
advanced. At one time, over a million Mayans lived in current day Belize
(three times the present population), and only a small number of Mayan
ruins have been excavated so far.

I arranged our Xunantunich tour
through Royal Caribbean as our shore excursion while in Belize. The trip
by bus from Belize City to Xunantunich near the Guatamalean border takes
2 hours. During this time our tour guide pointed out interesting aspects
of daily life in Belize, the culture, and a history of the Mayans. I had
a great time hiking up El Castillo and visiting the second tallest
structure in Belize.

If anyone is going to Belize and would like to tour the country and
Xuanantunich, our tour guide gave me his contact: jun.jun.360@hotmail.com.
His name is Eusebio Valdez, and contact phone is (00)501-601-4841.
Great guy. Is working towards a degree in Archaeology, and gives a
fascinating tour on the Maya ruin and his country.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Pearl Harbor Survivor Recounts Japanese Attack

Situated
over 9 acres, this museum tells the riveting account of the Pacific War,
it's hardships, and how we fought the Japanese: one island at a time.

The
highlight of our tour when we last visited a few years ago was hearing two
WWII veterans recount their experiences in battle who were volunteering
their time to help teach our youth about this important time of our
history. I talked with Quinton Pyle, who saw up close as the USS
Arizona exploded as it was hit by Japanese torpedos 70 years ago today.Quinton
Pyle

Mr. Pyle pointed on the Pearl Harbor photo where his ship,
the USS Bagley, was nearby in the Navy Yard, and was the first ship to
return fire and shoot down a Japanese plane. The crew were commended for
fast thinking, especially since many of the crew had just entered service.
He showed me his left arm where it had been injured during the Pearl
Harbor attack while cutting gromets from 5" shells. Although walking with
a cane, he appeared to be in good health, and remembered the fateful day
clearly.USS
Bagley
Mr. Pyle went on to serve aboard the Destroyer, including at Wake Island,
Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Saipan.
I was fortunate to be able to meet and talk with him. As the WWII veterans
dwindle rapidly in numbers, it is important that their stories be told.

Numerous
exhibits include significant period artifacts and war memorabilia for the
Allies and the Japanese. A portion of the museum is housed in the old
Nimitz Hotel, which was owned by the Nimitz family, and commemorates
Admiral Chester Nimitz who served over the naval operations in the
Pacific. I recommend a visit to the museum when in the area. Plan to spend
about 3 hours to have time to visit all the exhibits.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Natchez Eola Hotel - Feature Accommodation

Natchez has a rich history that few towns in America can match.
Overlooking the picturesque Mississippi River, the town offers a glimpse
into the past with antebellum mansion tours and antique shops aplenty.Read
more about our recent stay at the elegant Eola
Hotel offering panoramic views of the downtown area.Book
a stay at the Natchez Eola Hotel now.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

9e Ranch B&B - Rustic Cabins & Country Views

On our visit to 9E Ranch Bed & Breakfast
in Smithville just 10 miles from the historic town of Bastrop, we were
impressed with the log cabins, the horses, donkeys, playful cats, and
don't forget Texas longhorns. The owners made us feel right at home.
Head with us to the ranch as we discover a great hideaway.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

The exotic Omni Mandalay at Las Colinas

Situated in the upscale business center of Las Colinas, the Omni
Mandalay offers panoramic views of Lake Carolyn and the downtown Dallas
skyline. The Omni goes to great lengths to impress. For our feature, we
stayed in the Presidential Suite on the 28th floor. To say that the
suite is massive is an understatement. At 2,890 square feet, it's larger
than our house. I kept wondering what it was like here just the week
before as the Green Bay Packers coach and team celebrated their Super
Bowl win while staying here at the Omni.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Recently we visited the Bob
Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. With three floors of
interactive displays, exhibits, films, and the IMAX Theatre there is a
lot of history to absorb on the Lone Star State.Read about in our new
feature and view a video overview here courtesy of the Museum:

Watch a sneak peak of the upcoming movie Born To Be Wild showing soon at
the IMAX Theatre in the Bob Bullock Museum:

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Hotel ICON in Houston to be rebranded

The Hotel ICON has recently been purchased by Magic Johnson's joint
venture company Canyon Johnson Urban Funds, with plans to have it become
a part of a hotel chain to be announced. We wish the acquisition well
and hope that the 135 room Houston hotel retains the special charm that
we found throughout.Built in 1911 as a bank, many historic reminders
remain including a huge bank vault at the hotel check-in desk.Read
our Hotel
ICON feature and watch our video:

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Bear Creek Retreat near Austin

Looking for an ideal retreat near Austin where you can have a two story
house to yourself or either desire a reunion, wedding, or meeting in a
Texas hill country setting?Besides the complimentary guest snacks
and beverages, get your very own jar of out-of-this-world homemade hot
fudge perfect when heated and drizzled over some ice cream to enjoy
while you soak in the hot tub out back. Read about our visit and review
of Bear
Creek Retreat.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Texas Stadium Implosion

In case you missed it, the home of America's team the Dallas Cowboys was
impoded early this morning. On a visit to Dallas last year we got a
final view of the old stadium in nearby Irving. Although it's sad to see
the old stadium go, the new one in Arlington is quite an improvement and
building parts of the old will be recycled.Here's hoping that it
lasts as long as the old one, which was built in 1971 for a paltry $35
million. The new Cowboys Stadium was built at a price tag of 1.3 billion.The
11 year old kid who won an essay contest to flip the switch has an
inspiring charity, CaseysHeart,
which donates to the homeless in Dallas. He has been doing this since he
was 8!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The bustling city of Houston

Coming up, we return to the fastest growing city in the country.We
will be featuring the contemporary hotel - Hotel Derek and the fine
dining Italian restaurant Valentino. Both are located in the Galleria
area and near the Uptown district.There
is plenty to do in this vibrant city, the 4th largest in the county.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Saying Goodbye to a New York City Landmark

For those who have traveled to New York City, a stop at the artist lined
walls of Tavern on the Green has been a must see. The famed restaurant
began serving customers back in 1934. The building itself goes back to
1870 and is a perfect example of architecture from that era. Up until
1934 it housed a shephard who had a shearing business for his 200 sheep
(believe it or not). The restaurant has impressed many patrons over the
years with opulent chandeliers, artwork, and interesting dishes. Read
more about in this WSJ
article.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Houston Restaurant Focus: Cullen's Upscale American Grille

To say that the new Cullen's restaurant is massive is an understatement.
At just under 40,000 square feet, Cullen's near Clear Lake offers an
upscale American dining experience indoors or outdoors, with bar,
billiards room, and live entertainment all under one roof. The cozy
decor is tastefully appointed with dark wood and casino style
surroundings.

Since opening in 2008, Cullen's has continued to expand their menu
selections, ranging from steaks, chicken, seafood, subs or pizza. The
menu includes a large wine list that includes over 100 Texas wines. For
special events, there is a circular ballroom that can accomodate up to
200 guests.